Locking means for ladies&#39; handbags and the like



Jan- 9, 19,40- 'v G. `I AulsrsNsTElN 2,186,905

LOCKING MEANS Fon LADIES'v HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE Filed sept. 16, 193s In Fam:

y 2 INVENTORl ATTORNEYS,-

lf'itam-,cl Jan. 9, 1940 LOCKING' MEANS FOR LADIES HANDBAGS AND THE LIKE George Laubenstein, Madison, N. J., assigner to The J.l E.,Mergott Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application September 16, 1938, Serial No. 230,218

3 Claims.

This invention relates to 'locking means for ladies handbags and the like.

Heretofore, the locking devices' for `ladies handbags and the like have included a spring which has added to the cost of the locking means and it has also been an item in the manufacturing cosvts due to the labor required to associate the spring in the locking means. An object of this invention is a locking means of simple and inexpensive i structure which can be easily and quickly assembled with a handbag frame and in which no separate spring member is required.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specication and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partially open ladies handbag equipped with locking means embodying the invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fg. 1; o

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but with th handbag closed;

Fig. Llois a fragmentary perspective View partially broken away ,of the locking means illus- `trated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive;

` Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of another modification, and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'I--1 of Fig. 6.

In Fig, 1, I and II comprise two hinged frame members of standard construction to which is attached in the ordinary manner the material I2 constituting the'bag proper.v The frame members IIiand II are of the standard construction, each having a flat border member Illa and I I a respectively. In the member Ila, two slots I3 are provided, these slots being slightly spaced from each other andl extending lengthwise of the member I Ia. A plate I4 rests on the memberlta and and has provision such as holes I5, for the attachment thereto of a button or any other ornamental member, such as shown at I6. The plate is suitably cut away and slittedl to provide two pairs of tongues vI'I which are turned at right angles to the plateand pass through the slits I3. Between the tongues of each pair is provided sufficient clearance to enable them to move toward each other to reduce the overall width of a pair sufliciently to pass through a slot I3, said slot being of less width than the normal overall width of a pair of tongues I1. Each tongue is cut back to provide a shoulder I 8 which engages the vthe frame IIJ;

under surface of the member I Ia. to hold the plate in contact with such member.V y

The portions I9 of the plate provide bearing members contacting the member I Ia so as to hold the plate firmly in position, there being substantially no play between the plate I4 and the member I Ia. The plate I4 is cut away centrally as at 20 to provide a space to receive the nose or projection 2I formed on the border member Illa of lo In assembling the plate I4 with the frame II, the tongues I'I are forced through the slots I3, the tongues of each pair moving toward each other to permit such insertion. After the tongues have been fully inserted they spring outwardly to bring the shoulders I8 below the member I Ia and thus lock the plate to such member. The plate is of suiiicient resilience that when the projection 2| is engaged with its outer edge, it will yield sufficiently to permit movement of the two frame members into contact with the projection 2i passing into the space whereupon the plate I4 springs back into original position, thus locking the two frame members. In order to unlock the bag, the front edge of the plate I4 is lifted by pressure exerted against the button I6, such pressure being effective due to the engagement of the members I9 with the member I'Ia to lift the plate to release the projection 2|.

The modification disclosed in Fig. 5 is designed for use where it is desired to have a locking member extend over a major portion of the frame 'member. The plate I4 of this modification differs from the plate 'I4 of Fig. 4 in that it is considerably longer and is provided with four pairs of tongues I'I instead of two pairs and has a correspondingly greater number of members I9.

In Figs. 6 and '7 is illustrated a modication in which the invention is embodied in a very small locking member and in this modification the plate I4 is provided with only `a single pair of tongues I'I, each of which fits into a slot I3 and there is but a singlemember I9. However, this modification embodies the same principle as embodied in the other modification.

It is of course understood that various modications may be made in the structure of the device herein disclosed, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention'as dened in the appended claims.

I claim: 4 1. In a latch for handbags having pivoted frames, a plate of resilient material arranged substantially at upon both frames when the handbag is closed and provided with tongues partially severed from the plate and extending downwardly at right angles to the main portion of the plate and having outer engaging edges provided with means for interlocking them with one of the pivoted frames, said frame being slotted to receive said tongues and the pair of tongues being of greater normal overall width than the slot receiving them whereby `when the tongues are' inserted in the slot of said frame they will be distorted and through the resiliency of the metal will spring into interlocking engagement with the slotted frame and rigidly-connectsaidy plate to said slotted frame and operate to hold thel plate in position for detachable engagement with the other frame of the handbag,.the.bend which connects the lugs to the main portion ofthe plate providing for lateral yield whereby said plate may engage with the other pivotedframe.

2. In a latch for handbags having pivoted frames, a plate of resilient material arranged substantially iat uponv both of the frames when the handbag is closed and provided-withspaced Vtongues extending downwardly at right angles to the main portion of the plate and provided at their outer edges with recesses forming frame engaging shoulders, one of the frames being=slotted `to receive said tongues and the' pair' of `tongues being of greater normal overall widthl than the slot receiving them, whereby )when .the tongues are inserted in the slot of the frame they will be tendingl downward atright angles to said main `portion of the plate and having outer engaging edges, provided with means for interlocking engagement with one of said frames, said frame being slotted to receive said tongues and the pair of tongues being of greater normal overall width thanl the slot receiving them and slightly spaced apart and movable toward each other whereby when the tongues are inserted through the slot y'in the'slotted' frame they will spring into inter locking engagement 'with' said frame andrigidly connect the plate to thev slotted frame and hold said plate in position for'engagement with the other frame of the handbag, the resiliency of the materiall at'the bend which connects the lugs with the main portion of the plateproviding for laterialyield whereby said'plate may engage with the other pivoted frame.

GEORGE LAUBENSTEIN. 

